There are a lot of great players in the NBA who have been honored by their respective teams with jersey retirements over the years. However, not everyone gets a chance to have a statue of them placed in front of the team’s arena. That’s what Dwyane Wade is expected to receive this October from his team, the Miami Heat.

Wade has been one of the most prominent players to ever play for the Miami Heat in his career. The Heat revealed that a statue of the former Heat player was slated to come soon, and now they have announced that the statue will be finally unveiled this October 27th with the hopes of reigniting fan confidence in the team and delivering a promising confidence heading into the later months of the season.

For the first time in Miami Heat history, Wade will be honored with a bronze statue that will be placed in front of the Kaseya Center. The face of the Miami Heat franchise over the years was also inducted into the Hall of Fame last season alongside the likes of Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker, Pau Gasol, Becky Hammon, and Gregg Popovich.

An Enduring Legacy for Wade

Wade’s statue was created by Omri Amrany and Oscar León of Fine Art Studio Rotblatt Amrany. Amrany was known for his works of retired NBA stars – such as the iconic “Michael Jordan Spirit” in Chicago as well as statues of Shaquille O’Neal, Dirk Nowitzki, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar among many others.

Not all players have earned statues of themselves outside their respective teams’ arenas. For Wade to be given the first statue in Miami Heat history proves that he has excelled in his career. It cannot be denied that the former star guard deserves this praise now more than ever, and he is definitely a legend for the team at this point.

“When we retired his jersey in February 2020, I said Dwyane was the face of this franchise forever and I meant it,” Heat President Pat Riley said in a statement in January. “Dwyane’s legacy is a towering one not only for the Miami Heat but for Miami-Wade County. I can’t think of a better way to honor him than by memorializing that legacy.”

The Prodigal Son of Miami

Wade was selected by Miami back in 2003 and was immediately a star factor in his run with the team. A 13-time All-Star, Wade helped the Heat to clinch its first NBA title back in 2006 and was even named the Finals MVP. He would later team up with LeBron James and Chris Bosh in 2010 to form the Heat’s big three and won back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013 while securing four straight berths to the NBA Finals from 2011 to 2014.

In his 15-year run with the Heat, Wade averaged 22.7 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.7 rebounds while also winning the 2009 NBA scoring title. He was also named to the NBA 75 anniversary team on top of being inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2023.

Over the years, Wade has become the face of the franchise throughout his career. Wade also stands as Miami’s all-time leader in multiple stat lines, such as points, games played, assists, steals, shots made, and shots taken. Now he is slated to have his statue erected in front of Kaseya Center for fans to remember his legendary contributions to the franchise’s success in his career.